Archive By Section - Coffee Break

DEAR ABBY: I'm a college sophomore living in a dorm. My best friend lives a few doors down. We have always had a wonderful, caring friendship and many things in common. Lately, however, she has not been spending much time with me. Normally this would not concern me because we are both very busy right now - but we recently had an argument in which I discovered her inability to handle confrontation.

If you play in many pair events at duplicate tournaments, you know how important overtricks can be. If everyone else with your cards is making four spades exactly, you get a top board if you can bring home an overtrick. But when you move away from pairs and play in either a team event or Chicago, can you adjust, playing carefully to guarantee your contract and not worrying about those overtricks?

DEAR ABBY: You printed a letter from "Feeling Guilty, Memphis, Tenn." (9/6) from a woman wanting to call off her engagement to a soldier stationed in Iraq. You stated, "Under no circumstances should you ..." From my experience, I disagree.

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 70-year-old male Caucasian with a long history of back problems dating back to the mid-1980s. I had a partially herniated disc, and I spent a week in traction. I still have back problems. Chiropractic manipulation was no help. The chiropractor finally suggested trying an epidural shot to quiet a pinched nerve.

Cupid could have his arrows pointed directly at you in the year ahead, making you far more attractive than usual to the opposite sex. Those who aren't looking may nevertheless feel more vivacious, affectionate and appealing.

The year ahead is likely to be one of your more fortunate periods. However, if you don't use this good luck in ways that can build a future for yourself, those breaks may count for little. Take good advantage of this cycle.

DEAR DR. GOTT: My husband is 46 years old. During a physical through his job, he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He is taking medication for this, and his doctor told him about changing his diet, exercising and not drinking as much. He did tell him he could have a beer or two with his meals. My husband thinks three to four 12-ounce cans of beer equals two! Needless to say, he is not doing his part in the recommendations given to him. As an example, during a barbecue, he had more than a 12-pack of beer and didn ...

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I are in our early 30s, with a 2-year-old daughter and a baby on the way. Both of our parents live eight to 10 hours away by car, so there is limited exposure to both sets of grandparents.

A new strengthening of who you are and where you want to go in life may occur. It could give you greater independence to activate your desires to lead in situations where you once were content to follow.

DEAR DR. GOTT: Eight months ago, I fell and broke my right ankle. A cast was put on, and I was sent home from the emergency room. That night, I was in great pain in my upper leg. I went back to the hospital, and, after several days there, I was told I had internal bleeding and was given four units of blood. That was eight months ago. I have some numbness in the leg from my ankle up to my crotch, my knee gives way and I can't depend on it. I am 82 years old and am ...

Now that fall had taken hold, the leaves on the trees were blazing the maroons, oranges, yellows and reds that everyone loves. But with an early snowfall in the forecast, the Senior Life Master's class was filled to capacity.

DEAR ABBY: I am a 51-year-old woman dating a 39-year-old man. He is smart, funny, sexy, considerate and nice to me. I don't see much of my family anymore because they were abusive, and it's better if I don't. However, I am worried about what they and my other friends will think.